Axle swap error?

[TexCaliBII]

Well,
You guys can laugh with, or at, me but I did up an 8.8 out of a 92 Explorer for my 87 BII a while ago and finally got around to installing it tonight only to find the perches are about a 1/2 inch to far toward the pumpkin. I put the new perches on before I cut off the factory ones and made SURE they matched and were level, even, etc.; should have known better than to fully weld them on before making sure they would fit . Especially since the welds were the best I have ever done..... However I never thought about measuring the BII perch to perch as I thought they were the same I thought about using a ratchet strap to pull the springs in a bit but it seems they would have to move a lot to make it fit. Seems there is nothing for it but to cut these off and move them, or put new ones on, outboard toward the backing plates. Any other way I might be saved the trouble ??????

PS. I also posted this in the axle section but wanted more coverage....

 

[1989Bii]

Just tack em down first! Where did you ge tyour perches?

 

[unoleisu]

I'm not sure you really have a problem. I did an explorer leaf spring swap on my BII not long ago, and I noticed when I was lowering the axle the orignal leaf springs "popped" out alittle to the sides. Then when I installed the exploder leafs, they were out about a half inch each side. I just positioned one side on the centering "pin" and jacked the axle up till the other spring had some pressure on it, and popped it with a mallet, into position. Then continued like normal. I haven't noticed any issues with it.

 

[disciplerocks]

Same here. Just bolt one side in then pull the other straight. I can do mine by hand, but it may be easier with a rachet strap.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

This is what I did, I didn't like the idea of forcing the springs into place.
Post # 10 and #15
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98389

Richard

 

[TexCaliBII]

YEs, well I NOW know I should have tacked them and welded everything up after checking the fit in the truck but everything I had read said they were the same. I'm going to try the strap method as I already have explorer springs in the truck that mated right up to the stock rearend so I thought this was a slam dunk. Still might be as not all is lost it seems. Thanks guys for the info, I greatly appreciate. I'll let ya'll kinow how it works out!

 

[b2rich]

I think they are offset to the center bolt for a reason. might add a little tension.
horizontaly. IDK
when i put my sploder springs in the stock axle i had about 1/2 inch on one side. so i just split the difference on both sides and took a BFH and knocked them in place.
no problems.

 

[TexCaliBII]

Cool, there might actually be light at the end of the tunnel that ain't an on coming train. That'll make the wife happy too as this is her DD. I also have a 4 inch lift kit to install using belltech 6400 shackles in the back and "vintage" virgin Skyjacker drop brackets in front.

1989Bii

Sorry I forgot to answer your question in my last post. I got the swap kit from Barnes Off Road. Fit and finish of the kit is great, really beefy stuff. Just a real pain that you need to enlarge pin hole in the perches and top plate which I did not fully concider that either before installing the perches. Had to use a carbide burr on my air tools to carefully open the holes up in the perches. Can use a step bit for the plates.

 

[TexCaliBII]

Woohoo it's in!!!!!

Alright! Got the axle in, brakes mounted and bleed, now just the drive shaft and I'm road ready...

 

[LIMA BEAN]

Alright! Got the axle in, brakes mounted and bleed, now just the drive shaft and I'm road ready...

Right on man, make sure you post some pics up for us to admire your work. Funny as hell my folks woke up to snow down in Delta on saturday morning, mom was non to pleased as she heats the green house this time of year with a wood stove. Oh yea and my nephew and his girl had their baby up in Fairbanks today too so yea cooool.

 

[TexCaliBII]

Okay,
here are some pics of the 8.8 installed along with 4" belltech shackles. 4" Skyjacker lift getting ready to go in now. And no it's leaking. That is WD-40 from when I had is standing on end to tack on some metal for the disk brake lines to attach to and drilling and tapping the holes. I cleaned it up later...